Elevator system

ABSTRACT

In an elevator system, an operation of a car is controlled by an operation control section. When a specific user in the car is certified by personal authentication of a personal authentication section after a landing call registration operation is performed by a user through a landing call operation section provided on a landing, the operation control section counts registered specific floors present in a traveling direction of the car according to the landing call registration operation in the registered specific floors based on registered floor information received from the personal authentication section, and performs a destination floor registration with the registered specific floor being a destination floor of the car if the number of the counted registered specific floors is one.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an elevator system providingpredetermined elevator service to a specific user certified by personalauthentication, which is used for a building such as collective housingwith, for example, a built-in home automation system.

BACKGROUND ART

In a conventional call registration apparatus of an elevator, personalauthentication of a specific user is made by fingerprint matching topermit a destination floor registration operation of a car for aspecific floor, which is performed by the specific user certified by thepersonal authentication (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: JP 2002-220162 A

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

With the conventional call registration apparatus of the elevator asdescribed above, it is necessary to perform a plurality of operations,specifically, a fingerprint matching operation and the destination floorregistration operation for the car to allow the specific user to move tothe specific floor. Therefore, for example, when the specific user comesback to his/her residence on the specific floor, the specific user isrequired to perform the fingerprint matching operation and thedestination floor registration operation for the car even if thereexists only one specific floor on which the specific user can ride on oroff the elevator. As a result, convenience for the specific userdecreases.

The present invention has been made to solve the problem as describedabove, and has an object of obtaining an elevator system capable ofimproving the convenience for the specific user certified by thepersonal authentication to move to the specific floor.

Means for Solving the Problem

According to the present invention, there is provided an elevator systemused for a building including a plurality of specific floors usable by aspecific user acquiring personal identification information in advance,including: an operation control section for controlling an operation ofa car; an intra-car input section provided in the car, to which thepersonal identification information is input by the specific user; apersonal authentication section for making personal authentication ofthe specific user based on the personal identification informationreceived from the intra-car input section; and a registered informationextracting section capable of being registered with information of aregistered specific floor corresponding to the specific floorpre-designated by the specific user as registered floor information inassociation with the personal identification information, for extractingthe registered floor information corresponding to the specific usercertified by the personal authentication based on the personalidentification information received from the personal authenticationsection, in which, upon the personal authentication of the specific userin the car by the personal authentication section while the operationcontrol section causes the car to wait on a landing in response to alanding call registration operation performed on the landing, theoperation control section counts the registered specific floors presentin a traveling direction of the car according to the landing callregistration operation in the registered specific floors based on theregistered floor information received from the registered informationextracting section, and performs a destination floor registration withthe registered specific floor being a destination floor of the car ifthe number of the counted registered specific floors is one.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1] A block diagram illustrating an elevator system according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] A block diagram illustrating an elevator controller illustratedin FIG. 1 in a specific manner.

[FIG. 3] A flowchart illustrating an operation of the elevatorcontroller illustrated in FIG. 1.

[FIG. 4] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevator controlleraccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 5] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevator controlleraccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 6] A flowchart illustrating a part of an operation of an elevatorcontroller according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 7] A flowchart illustrating the part of the operation of theelevator controller according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[FIG. 8] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevator controlleraccording to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 9] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevator controlleraccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 10] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevatorcontroller according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 11] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevatorcontroller according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 12] A flowchart illustrating an operation of an elevatorcontroller according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 13] An explanatory view for illustrating an example of anoperating condition of an elevator controller according to a tenthembodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 14] An explanatory view for illustrating another example of theoperating condition of the elevator controller according to the tenthembodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 15] An explanatory view for illustrating a further example of theoperating condition of the elevator controller according to the tenthembodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed referring to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an elevator system according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a building 1includes a general floor usable by an unspecified number of generalusers and a plurality of specific floors, each being usable by aspecific user who obtains permission to access the specific floor inadvance. In the building 1, a plurality of elevators 2 are provided. Aunique elevator car number is assigned to each of the elevators 2. Eachof the elevators 2 includes a car 3 which is raised and lowered in ahoistway and an elevator controller 4 corresponding to an operationcontrol section for controlling an operation of the car 3.

In the car 3 of each of the elevators 2, there are provided an intra-caroperation panel (intra-car destination floor call button) 5corresponding to an intra-car operation section operated by the user andan intra-car matching device 6 corresponding to an intra-car inputsection to which personal identification information is input by thespecific user. The intra-car operation panel 5 notifies the elevatorcontroller 4 of a destination floor registration operation performed bythe user. For each of a plurality of landings on each floor of thebuilding 1, there are provided a landing operation panel (landingbutton) 7 corresponding to a landing call operation section throughwhich a landing call registration operation is performed by the specificuser and a landing matching device 8 corresponding to a landing inputsection to which the personal identification information is input by thespecific user. The landing operation panel 7 notifies the elevatorcontroller 4 of a landing registration operation performed by the user.

Each of the intra-car matching device 6 and the landing matching device8 includes a personal identification information reading section (notshown). The personal identification information reading section is, forexample, an ID card reading section for reading an ID card such as amagnetic card or an IC card possessed by the specific user. Theintra-car matching device 6 and the landing matching device 8 areconnected to a personal authentication device 9 in which the personalidentification information of the user is pre-registered.

The personal authentication device 9 makes personal authentication ofthe specific user based on the personal identification informationreceived from the intra-car matching device 6 or the landing matchingdevice 8. Upon reception of the personal identification information ofthe specific user, the personal authentication device 9 identifies theintra-car matching device 6 or the landing matching device 8 from whichthe personal identification information is input. Specifically, uponreception of the personal identification information from the landingmatching device 8, the personal authentication device 9 specifies alanding floor on which the landing matching device 8 is provided.Further, by identifying an input source of the personal identificationinformation, the personal authentication device 9 generates inputposition specifying information for specifying a position at which thepersonal identification information is input by the specific user.

When the input source of the personal identification information is theintra-car matching device 6, the input position specifying informationgenerated by the personal authentication device 9 contains informationof the elevator car number of the elevator 2 and information indicatingthat the input source of the personal identification information ispresent in the car 3. On the other hand, when the input source of thepersonal identification information is the landing matching device 8,the input position specifying information generated by the personalauthentication device 9 contains information of the elevator car numberof the elevator 2 and information indicating a landing floor on whichthe landing matching device 8 corresponding to the input source islocated.

A remote controller 10 corresponding to a registered informationextracting section is connected to the personal authentication device 9.The personal identification information of the specific user who iscertified by the personal authentication of the personal authenticationdevice 9 and the input position specifying information corresponding tothe specific user are transmitted from the personal authenticationdevice 9 to the remote controller 10. In the remote controller 10,information of a plurality of registered floors registered by thespecific user in advance is pre-registered as registered floorinformation in association with the personal identification information.The registered floor information contains a registered general floorwhich is a general floor registered by the specific user in advance anda registered specific floor which is a specific floor registered by thespecific user in advance.

The remote controller 10 extracts the registered floor informationcorresponding to the specific user certified by the personalauthentication based on the personal identification information receivedfrom the personal authentication device 9. The remote controller 10transmits the registered floor information and the input positionspecifying information as authentication content information to theelevator controller 4 of the elevator 2 having the elevator car numberbased on the input position specifying information transmitted from thepersonal authentication device 9. Specifically, the personalauthentication device 9 and the remote controller 10 constitute apersonal authentication section.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the elevator controller 4illustrated in FIG. 1 in a specific manner. The elevator controller 4includes a control content analyzing section 4 a, a ride-on detectingsection 4 b, a building floor structure storage section (generalfloor/specific floor table) 4 c, a control content judging section 4 d,and a call registration control section 4 e. The control contentanalyzing section 4 a analyzes the authentication content informationreceived from the remote controller 10. Moreover, the control contentanalyzing section 4 a analyzes the authentication content information toverify contents of the registered floor information and the inputposition specifying information corresponding to the specific usercertified by the personal authentication.

The ride-on detecting section 4 b monitors outputs from, for example, aphotoelectric sensor (not shown) provided in the car 3, a load detectingdevice (not shown) for detecting a load on the car 3, and a surfacepressure sensor (not shown) provided on a floor surface of the car 3 andthe like to detect a ride of the user on/off the car 3. The buildingfloor structure storage section 4 c is pre-registered with buildingfloor structure information which is information indicating that each ofthe floors of the building is the general floor or the specific floor.

The control content judging section 4 d judges how the operation of thecar 3 is to be controlled based on the information of the contentsanalyzed by the control content analyzing section 4 a, the buildingfloor structure information in the building floor structure storagesection 4 c, a ride status of the user in the car 3, and theregistration operations performed by the user, specifically, thedestination floor registration operation and the landing callregistration operation.

Here, an example of the contents of control of the car 3, which arejudged by the control content judging section 4 d, is specificallydescribed. In response to the landing call registration operationperformed through the landing operation panel 7 by the user, the controlcontent judging section 4 d causes the car 3 to wait on the landingfloor on which the operated landing operation panel 7 is located. Atthis time, when the control content analyzing section 4 a analyzes thatthe personal authentication device 9 makes personal authentication ofthe specific user in the car 3, the control content judging section 4 dcounts the registered specific floors present in a traveling directionof the car 3 according to the landing call registration operation in theregistered specific floors corresponding to the specific user certifiedby the personal authentication based on the building floor structureinformation. When the number of the counted registered specific floorsis one, the control content judging section 4 d performs a destinationfloor registration with the registered specific floor being adestination floor of the car 3.

The call registration control section 4 e performs an elevator callregistration (automatic registration of an elevator call) correspondingto a destination floor registration and a landing call registrationbased on the contents of control judged by the control content judgingsection 4 d. The call registration control section 4 e also disables thedestination floor registration operation for all the specific floors,which is performed by the user through the intra-car operation panel 5.Further, the call registration control section 4 e permits thedestination floor registration operation for the registered specificfloor, which is performed by the user through the intra-car operationpanel 5, based on the contents of control judged by the control contentjudging section 4 d.

Here, each of the elevator controller 4, the personal authenticationdevice 9 and the remote controller 10 can be constituted by a computer(not shown) including an arithmetic processing unit (CPU), a storagesection (a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk and the like) and a signalinput/output section. In the storage section of the computer of theelevator controller 4, programs for realizing the functions of thecontrol content analyzing section 4 a, the ride-on detecting section 4b, the control content judging section 4 d and the call registrationcontrol section 4 e are stored. A program for realizing the operation ofthe personal authentication device 9 is stored in the storage section ofthe computer of the personal authentication device 9. A program forrealizing the operation of the remote controller 10 is stored in thestorage section of the computer of the remote controller 10.

Next, an operation is described. Here, an operation of the elevatorcontroller 4 in response to the landing call registration operation isdescribed. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of theelevator controller 4 illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the elevatorcontroller 4 verifies whether or not the landing call registration hasbeen performed by the user through the landing operation panel 7 andwaits until the landing call registration is performed (Step S1). Whenthe landing call registration is performed, the elevator controller 4raises or lowers the car 3 to the landing floor on which the landingcall registration is performed. Upon detection of the arrival of the car3 at the floor, the elevator controller 4 opens a door of the car 3,and, at the same time, resets and starts a timer (Step S2).

Then, the elevator controller 4 verifies whether or not the specificuser is certified in the car 3 by the personal authentication (Step S3),and, at the same time, verifies whether or not the destination floorregistration operation for the general floor has been performed by theuser through the intra-car operation panel 5 (Step S3). Then, theelevator controller 4 waits until a predetermined period of time (forexample, 15 seconds) elapses from the start of the timer (Step S5). Whenthe elevator controller 4 verifies that the specific user is certifiedin the car 3 by the personal authentication (direction YES from StepS3), the elevator controller 4 permits the destination floorregistration operation for the registered specific floor correspondingto the specific user who is certified by the personal authentication ofthe personal authentication device 9 (Step S6), and counts theregistered specific floors present in a raising/lowering direction ofthe car 3 (Step S7). Then, the elevator controller 4 verifies whether ornot the number of the counted registered specific floors is one (StepS8).

When the number of the counted registered specific floors is one(direction YES from Step S8), the elevator controller 4performs thedestination floor registration with the registered specific floor beingthe destination floor of the car 3 (Step S9), and sets to disable thedestination floor registration operation for the registered specificfloor, which is performed through the intra-car operation panel 5 (StepS10). Then, the elevator controller 4 closes the door of the car 3 andcauses the car 3 to start running to the destination floor. In thismanner, the operation of the elevator controller 4 in response to thelanding call registration operation is terminated.

On the other hand, when the number of the counted registered specificfloors is not one (direction NO from Step S8), the elevator controller 4verifies whether or not the destination floor registration operation forthe general floor or the specific floor has been performed by the user(Step S11), and waits until the destination floor registration operationis performed by the user or a predetermined period of time elapses fromthe start of the timer (Step S12). Then, when the destination floorregistration operation is performed by the user through the intra-caroperation panel 5, the elevator controller 4 performs the destinationfloor registration with the general floor or the specific floorregistered by the operation of the user being the destination floor ofthe car 3 (Step S13), and sets to disable the destination floorregistration operation for the registered specific floor, which isperformed through the intra-car operation panel 5 (Step S10). Then, theelevator controller 4 closes the door of the car 3 and causes the car 3to start running to the destination floor. In this manner, the operationof the elevator controller 4 in response to the landing callregistration operation is terminated.

When the elevator controller 4 verifies that the predetermined period oftime has elapsed while verifying whether or not the destination floorregistration operation is performed by the user or the predeterminedperiod of time elapses from the start of the timer (direction YES fromStep S12), the elevator controller 4 sets to disable the destinationfloor registration operation for the registered specific floor, which isperformed through the intra-car operation panel 5 (Step S14), and closesthe door of the car 3 to be in an operation standby state for the car 3.In this manner, the operation of the elevator controller 4 in responseto the landing call registration operation is terminated.

Further, when the destination floor registration operation for thegeneral floor is performed while the elevator controller 4 is verifyingthat the registered specific floor information has been received fromthe remote controller 10 or the destination floor registration operationfor the general floor has been performed through the intra-car operationpanel 5 (direction YES from Step S4), the elevator controller 4 performsthe destination floor registration in response to the destination floorregistration operation performed by the user through the intra-caroperation panel 5 (Step S15), and closes the door of the car 3 to causethe car 3 to start running to the destination floor. In this manner, theoperation of the elevator controller 4 in response to the landing callregistration operation is terminated.

Further, the elevator controller 4 verifies that the predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed while verifying whether or not the registeredspecific floor information has been received from the remote controller10, the destination floor registration operation for the general floorhas been performed through the intra-car operation panel 5, or thepredetermined period of time has elapsed from the start of the timer(direction YES from Step S5), the elevator controller 4 closes the doorof the car 3 to be in the operation standby state for the car 3. In thismanner, the operation of the elevator controller 4 in response to thelanding call registration operation is terminated.

In the elevator system as described above, the specific user in the car3 is certified by the personal authentication. As a result, theregistered specific floors present in the traveling direction of the car3 in the registered specific floors registered in advance by thespecific user is counted. If the number of the counted registeredspecific floors is one, the destination floor registration is performedwith the registered specific floor being the destination floor of thecar. Therefore, the destination registration operation performed by thespecific user is omitted. As a result, the specific user certified bythe personal authentication can easily move to the registered specificfloor to improve the convenience for the specific user certified by thepersonal authentication to move to the specific floor.

Moreover, the destination floor registration operation for all thespecific floors, which is performed by the user through the intra-caroperation panel 5, is inhibited. The personal authentication of thespecific user in the car 3 permits the destination registrationoperation for the registered specific floor corresponding to thespecific user, and hence the travel of the general user to the specificfloors is restricted. As a result, security on the specific floors canbe improved. Specifically, the elevator system as described above canimprove the convenience for the specific user while maintaining thesecurity on the specific floors.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described. Theelevator controller 4 according to the first embodiment permits thedestination floor registration operation for the registered specificfloor, which is performed by the specific user through the intra-caroperation panel 5, upon personal authentication of the specific user bythe personal authentication device 9. On the other hand, the elevatorcontroller 4 according to the second embodiment permits the destinationfloor registration operation for all the specific floors, which isperformed by the specific user through the intra-car operation panel 5,upon personal authentication of the specific user by the personalauthentication device 9. The other structure is the same as that of thefirst embodiment.

Next, the operation is described. The elevator controller 4 according tothe second embodiment differs from the elevator controller 4 accordingto the first embodiment in the operation of the call elevator controller4 according to the first embodiment for permitting the destination floorregistration operation for the registered specific floor correspondingto the specific user who is certified by the personal authentication ofthe personal authentication device 9 upon reception of the registeredfloor information of the specific user (Step S6 illustrated in FIG. 3).In addition to the difference in the operation described above, theoperation of the call elevator controller 4 according to the firstembodiment for disabling the destination registration operation for theregistered specific floor (Steps S10 and S14 illustrated in FIG. 3) isdifferent. Here, only the differences from the first embodiment aredescribed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the elevatorcontroller 4 according to the second embodiment. Upon reception of theregistered floor information of the specific user, the elevatorcontroller 4 permits the destination floor registration operation forall the specific floors, which is performed through the intra-caroperation panel 5 (Step S21). Then, when the elevator controller 4verifies that the destination floor registration for the car 3 has beenperformed or the predetermined period of time has elapsed from the startof the timer, the elevator controller 4 disables the destination floorregistration operation performed through the intra-car operation panel 5(Steps S22 and S23). The other operation is the same as that of thefirst embodiment.

The elevator system as described above permits the destination floorregistration operation for all the specific floor, which is performed bythe specific user through the intra-car operation panel 5, and hence thespecific user can travel to the specific floor other than the registeredspecific floor which is registered in advance by the specific user.

The elevator controller 4 according to the first and second embodimentscounts the registered specific floors present in the raising/loweringdirection of the car 3, and performs the destination floor registrationwith the registered specific floor being the destination floor of thecar 3 if the number of the counted registered specific floors is one.However, the operation control section may count the registered specificfloors and registered general floors present in the raising/loweringdirection of the car, and may perform the destination floor registrationwith the registered floor being the destination floor of the car if thenumber of the counted registered floors is one. Specifically, theoperation control section may perform the destination floor registrationwith the general floor present in the raising/lowering direction of thecar being the destination floor of the car.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is described. The callregistration control section 4 e of the first and second embodimentspermits the landing call registration operation performed by the userthrough each of the landing operation panels 7 on all the car stopfloors, but the call registration control section 4 e according to thesecond embodiment disables in advance the landing call registrationoperation performed by the user through the landing operation panel 7 onthe general floor. The call registration control section 4 e permits thelanding call registration operation performed by the user through thelanding operation panel 7 on the general floor based on the contents ofthe operation of the car 3, which are judged by the control contentjudging section 4 d. The other structure is the same as that of thefirst embodiment or the second embodiment.

Next, the operation is described. The operation of the elevatorcontroller 4 related to the personal authentication of the specific useron the landing is described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating theoperation of the elevator controller 4 according to the third embodimentin response to the landing call registration operation. First, theelevator controller 4 verifies whether or not the specific user has beencertified by the personal authentication on the landing of the generalfloor and waits until the specific user is certified by the personalauthentication (Step S31). Upon verification of the personalauthentication of the specific user, the elevator controller 4 permitsthe call registration operation performed by the user through thelanding operation panel 7 on the corresponding landing (Step S32), andresets and starts the timer (Step S33).

Then, the elevator controller 4 verifies whether or not the landing callregistration operation has been performed by the user through thecorresponding landing operation panel 7 (Step S34), and verifies whetheror not the predetermined period of time has elapsed from the start ofthe timer (Step S35). At this time, when the landing call registrationoperation is performed by the user through the corresponding landingoperation panel 7, the elevator controller 4 performs the landing callregistration for the corresponding landing (Step S36) and sets todisable the landing call registration operation performed through thecorresponding landing operation panel 7 (Step S37). In the manner asdescribed above, the operation of the elevator controller 4 related tothe personal authentication of the specific user on the landing isterminated.

When the elevator controller 4 verifies that the predetermined period oftime has elapsed while verifying whether or not the landing callregistration operation has been performed through the correspondinglanding operation panel 7 or whether or not the predetermined period oftime has elapsed from the start of the timer (direction YES from StepS35), the elevator controller 4 sets to disable the landing callregistration operation performed through the corresponding landingoperation panel 7 (Step S37). In the manner as described above, theoperation of the elevator controller 4 related to the personalauthentication of the specific user on the landing is terminated.

In the elevator system as described above, the landing call registrationoperation performed through the landing operation panel 7 located on thegeneral floor is disabled in advance. Then, upon personal authenticationof the specific user, the landing call registration operation performedthrough the landing operation panel 7 located on the general floor ispermitted. Therefore, the use of the elevator 2 by the general user isinhibited to improve the security of the elevator 2.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. Inresponse to the personal authentication of the specific user on thelanding by the personal authentication device 9, the control contentjudging section 4 d of the fourth embodiment judges, based on thebuilding floor structure information, in which of an upward directionand a downward direction from the landing floor specified by thepersonal authentication device 9 all the registered floors based on theregistered floor information corresponding to the specific user arepresent. Then, when the control content judging section 4 d verifiesthat all the registered floors are present in only one of the upwarddirection and the downward direction from the specified landing floor,the control content judging section 4 d performs the landing callregistration with the traveling direction of the car 3 from thespecified landing floor being the direction in which the registeredfloors are present. The other structure is the same as that of the thirdembodiment.

Next, the operation is described. Here, similarly to the thirdembodiment, the operation of the elevator controller 4 related to thepersonal authentication of the specific user on the landing isdescribed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the operation ofthe elevator controller 4 according to the fourth embodiment. First, theelevator controller 4 verifies whether or not the specific user has beencertified by the personal authentication on the landing of the generalfloor and waits until the specific user is certified by the personalauthentication (Step S41). Upon reception of the registered floorinformation, the elevator controller 4 permits the call registrationoperation performed by the user through the landing operation panel 7 onthe corresponding landing (Step S42), and resets and starts the timer(Step S43).

Then, the elevator controller 4 verifies whether or not the registeredfloors corresponding to the specific user certified by the personalauthentication are present in both the upward direction and the downwarddirection from the corresponding landing (Step S44). When the registeredfloors are present in both the upward direction and the downwarddirection (direction YES from Step S44), the elevator controller 4verifies whether or not the landing call registration operation has beenperformed by the user through the corresponding landing operation panel7 (Step S45), and verifies whether or not the predetermined period oftime has elapsed from the start of the timer (Step S46). At this time,when the landing call registration operation is performed by the userthrough the corresponding landing operation panel 7 (direction YES fromStep S45, the elevator controller 4 performs the landing callregistration for the corresponding landing (Step S47) and sets todisable the landing call registration operation performed through thecorresponding landing operation panel 7 (Step S48). In the manner asdescribed above, the operation of the elevator controller 4 related tothe personal authentication of the specific user on the landing isterminated.

When the elevator controller 4 verifies that the predetermined period oftime has elapsed while verifying whether or not the landing callregistration operation has been performed through the correspondinglanding operation panel 7 or whether or not the predetermined period oftime has elapsed from the start of the timer (direction YES from StepS46), the elevator controller 4 sets to disable the landing callregistration operation performed through the corresponding landingoperation panel 7 (Step S48). In the manner as described above, theoperation of the elevator controller 4 related to the personalauthentication of the specific user on the landing is terminated.

On the other hand, when the registered floors are present in only one ofthe upward and downward directions from the corresponding landing(direction NO from Step S44), the elevator controller 4 verifies whetheror not the registered floors are present only in the upward directionfrom the corresponding landing floor (Step S49). When the registeredfloors are present only in the upward direction (direction YES from StepS49), the elevator controller 4 performs a traveling directionregistration with the raising/lowering direction of the car 3 beingupward from the corresponding landing and the landing call registrationfor the corresponding landing (Step S50). Then, the elevator controller4 sets to disable the landing call registration operation performedthrough the corresponding landing operation panel 7 (Step S48). In themanner described above, the operation of the elevator controller 4related to the personal authentication of the specific user on thelanding is terminated.

When the registered floors are not present only in the upward directionfrom the corresponding landing, specifically, the registered floors arepresent only in the downward direction (direction NO from Step S49), theelevator controller 4 performs the traveling direction registration withthe raising/lowering direction of the car 3 from the correspondinglanding being downward and the landing call registration for thecorresponding landing (Step S51). Then, the elevator controller 4 setsto disable the landing call registration operation performed through thecorresponding landing operation panel 7 (Step S48). In the mannerdescribed above, the operation of the elevator controller 4 related tothe personal authentication of the specific user on the landing isterminated.

Next, the operation of the elevator controller 4 when the car 3 arriveson the landing after the landing call registration is described. FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating a part of the operation of the elevatorcontroller 4 according to the fourth embodiment. First, when theelevator controller 4 detects that the car 3 arrives at thecorresponding landing and the door is opened, the elevator controller 4permits the destination floor registration operation performed throughthe intra-car operation panel 5 for the registered specific floorincluded in the registered floor information of the specific user (StepS61) and counts the registered specific floors present in theraising/lowering direction of the car 3 (Step S62).

Then, the elevator controller 4 verifies whether or not the number ofthe counted registered specific floors is one (Step S63). When thenumber of the counted registered specific floors is one, the elevatorcontroller 4 performs the destination floor registration with theregistered specific floor being the destination floor of the car 3 (StepS64). Then, the elevator controller 4 disables the destination floorregistration operation for the registered specific floor, which isperformed through the intra-car operation panel 5 (Step S65), closes thedoor of the car 3, and starts the operation of the car 3 to theregistered destination floor. In the manner described above, theoperation of the elevator controller 4 when the car 3 arrives at thelanding after the landing call registration is terminated.

On the other hand, if the number of the counted registered specificfloors is not one when the registered specific floors present in thedirection in which the car 3 is to be raised or lowered is counted(direction NO from Step S63), the elevator controller 4 verifies whetheror not the destination floor registration operation has been performedby the specific user through the intra-car operation panel 5 and waitsuntil the destination floor registration operation is performed (StepS66). When the destination floor registration operation is performed,the elevator controller 4 performs the destination floor registrationbased on the destination floor registration operation performed by theuser through the intra-car operation panel 5 (Step S67), disables thedestination floor registration operation for the registered specificfloor, which is performed through the intra-car operation panel 5 (StepS65), closes the door of the car 3, and starts the operation of the car3 to the registered destination floor. In the manner as described above,the operation of the elevator controller 4 when the car 3 arrives at thelanding after the landing call registration is terminated.

In the elevator system as described above, upon personal authenticationof the specific user on the landing, the elevator controller 4 performsthe traveling direction registration with the direction in which theregistered floors are present being the traveling direction of the car 3and the landing call registration for the corresponding registered floorif the registered floors corresponding to the specific user are presentin only one of the upward direction and the downward direction of thecorresponding landing. Therefore, the landing call registrationoperation performed by the specific user is no longer required. As aresult, the convenience for the specific user can be improved.

When the traveling direction of the car 3 from the corresponding landingis registered, the destination floor registration with the registeredspecific floor being the destination floor of the car 3 is performed ifthe number of the registered specific floors present in the travelingdirection of the car 3 is one in the registered specific floorscorresponding to the specific user. Therefore, besides the landing callregistration operation performed by the specific user, the destinationfloor registration operation is no longer required. As a result, theconvenience for the specific user can be further improved.

The elevator controller 4 of the fourth embodiment performs thedestination floor registration with the registered specific floor beingthe destination floor of the car 3 if the number of the registeredspecific floors present in the traveling direction of the car 3 is onein the registered specific floors corresponding to the specific user,but the elevator controller 4 may also perform the destination floorregistration with the registered floor being the destination floor ofthe car 3 if the number of the registered floors present in thetraveling direction of the car 3 is one in the registered floors(registered specific floors and registered general floors) correspondingto the specific user.

Fifth Embodiment

The elevator controller 4 according to the fourth embodiment judgeswhether or not all the registered floors are present in both the upwarddirection and the downward direction from the corresponding landing.Then, if all the registered floors are present in only one of the upwarddirection and the downward direction from the corresponding landing, theelevator controller judges whether or not the registered floors arepresent only in the upward direction from the corresponding landing(Steps S44 and S49 illustrated in FIG. 6). However, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the elevator controller 4 may also judge whether or not all theregistered specific floors are present in both the upward direction andthe downward direction from the corresponding landing. If all theregistered specific floors are present only in one of the upwarddirection and the downward direction from the corresponding landing, theelevator controller 4 may judge whether or not the registered specificfloors are present only in the upward direction from the correspondinglanding (Steps S71 and S72).

Sixth Embodiment

Further, the elevator controller 4 according to the fourth embodimentpermits the destination floor registration operation for the registeredspecific floor corresponding to the specific user, which is performedthrough the intra-car operation panel 5, upon detection of the dooropening of the car 3 (Steps S61 and S65 illustrated in FIG. 7), but theelevator controller 4 may permit the destination floor registrationoperation for all the specific floors, which is performed through theintra-car operation panel 5, upon detection of the door opening of thecar 3, as illustrated in FIG. 9 (Steps S81 and S82).

Seventh Embodiment

Further, the elevator controller 4 according to the fourth embodimentpermits the destination floor registration operation for the registeredspecific floor, which is performed by the user, immediately afterperforming the landing call registration. As illustrated in FIG. 10,however, the elevator controller 4 may verify whether or not the ride ofthe user on the car 3 is detected after performing the landing callregistration (Step S91), wait until the detection of the ride-on of theuser, and perform the operation of the elevator controller 4 accordingto the fourth embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 7 in response to thedetection of the ride-on of the user.

Eighth Embodiment

Further, the elevator controller 4 according to the sixth embodimentpermits the destination floor registration operation for all thespecific floors, which is performed by the user, immediately afterperforming the landing call registration. As illustrated in FIG. 11,however, the elevator controller 4 may verify whether or not the ride ofthe user on the car 3 is detected after performing the landing callregistration (Step S101), wait until the detection of the ride-on of theuser, and perform the operation of the elevator controller 4 accordingto the sixth embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 9 in response to thedetection of the ride-on of the user.

The elevator controller 4 of the eighth embodiment performs thedestination floor registration with the registered specific floor beingthe destination floor of the car 3 if the number of the registeredspecific floors present in the traveling direction of the car 3 is onein the registered specific floors corresponding to the specific user,but the elevator controller 4 may also perform the destination floorregistration with the registered floor being the destination floor ofthe car 3 if the number of the registered floors present in thetraveling direction of the car 3 is one in the registered floors(registered specific floors and registered general floors) correspondingto the specific user.

Ninth Embodiment

Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention is described. When thelanding call registration operation is performed by the user through thelanding operation panel 7 located on the landing, the control contentjudging section 4 d of the ninth embodiment judges based on the buildingfloor structure information whether or not the landing floor on whichthe operated landing operation panel 7 is located is the specific floor.Then, when the control content judging section 4 d judges that thelanding floor on which the operated landing operation panel 7 is locatedis the specific floor, the control content judging section 4 d countsthe general floors present in the traveling direction of the car 3 inresponse to the landing call registration operation based on thebuilding floor structure information. If the number of the countedgeneral floors is one, the control content judging section 4 d performsthe destination floor registration with the general floor being thedestination floor of the car 3. The other structure is the same as thatof any one of the first to eighth embodiments.

Next, the operation in response to the landing call registrationoperation performed by the user through the landing operation panel 7located on the specific floor is described. FIG. 12 is a flowchartillustrating the operation of the elevator controller 4 according to theninth embodiment. First, when the landing call registration operation isperformed by the user through the landing operation panel 7 located onthe specific floor, the elevator controller 4 raises/lowers the car 3 tothe landing to cause the door to open. Then, the elevator controller 4verifies whether or not the ride of the user on the car 3 has beendetected (Step S111), and waits until the ride-on of the user isdetected.

Then, upon detection of the ride-on of the user, the elevator controller4 counts the general floors present in the traveling direction of thecar 3 according to the landing call registration operation (Step S112),and verifies whether or not the number of the counted general floors isone (Step S113). When the number of the general floors is one, theelevator controller 4 performs the destination floor registration withthe general floor being the destination floor of the car 3 (Step S114)and starts raising/lowering the car 3. In the manner as described above,the operation of the elevator controller 4 in response to the landingcall registration operation performed through the landing operationpanel 7 on the specific floor is terminated.

On the other hand, when the number of the general floors is not one(direction NO from Step S113), the elevator controller 4 verifieswhether or not the destination floor registration operation has beenperformed by the user through the intra-car operation panel 5 (StepS115) and waits until the destination floor registration operation isperformed. Then, when the destination floor registration operation isperformed by the user, the elevator controller 4 performs thedestination floor registration according to the operation (Step S116)and starts raising/lowering the car 3. In the manner described above,the operation of the elevator controller 4 in response to the landingcall registration operation performed through the landing operationpanel 7 located on the specific floor is terminated.

In the elevator system as described above, when the landing operationpanel 7 located on the specific floor is operated by the user, thelanding call registration performed on the landing floor and thedestination floor registration for the general floor are performed bythe elevator controller 4. Therefore, the user can travel to the generalfloor by a simple operation for the user. As a result, the conveniencefor the user can be further improved.

The elevator controller 4 of the ninth embodiment performs thedestination floor registration of the car 3 immediately after thelanding call registration operation is performed on the specific floor,but the operation control section may perform the destination floorregistration of the car 3 after the landing call registration operationis performed on the specific floor and then the ride of the user on thecar is detected on the landing floor.

Tenth Embodiment

Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention is described. In theelevator controller 4, information of an operating condition indicatingwhether or not to implement the elevator call registrations,specifically, the landing call registration and the destination floorregistration, in response to the personal authentication of the specificuser is preset. The operating condition is settable for at least any oneof the personal identification information, the landing floor, and atime zone. The control content judging section 4 d, implements theautomatic registration for the landing call registration and thedestination floor registration based on the operating condition.

Here, an example of the operating condition set in the control contentjudging section 4 d is described. In the control content judging section4 d, the operating condition (effectiveness of the automaticregistration) is set in association with a specific time zone asillustrated in FIG. 13. The specific time zone includes peak time zonessuch as a school commute time zone, a work commute time zone, agoing-home time zone from work, a going-home time zone from school, andthe like. Then, the control content judging section 4 d implements theautomatic registration for the landing call registration and thedestination floor registration only in the specific time zone for whichthe automatic registration is set effective.

As another example of the operating condition set for the controlcontent judging section 4 d, the operating condition (effectiveness ofthe automatic registration) is registered in association with a roomnumber and a family number corresponding to the personal identificationinformation in the control content judging section 4 d as illustrated inFIG. 14. In this case, the family number, for which the automaticregistration is to be performed, is a number corresponding to a disableduser or an elderly user. The control content judging section 4 dimplements the automatic registration for the landing call registrationand the destination floor registration in response to the ride-on of theuser having the family number for which the automatic registration isset effective.

Further, as a further example of the operating condition set for thecontrol content judging section 4 d, the operating condition(effectiveness of the automatic registration) is set in association withinformation of the general floors in the control content judging section4 d as illustrated in FIG. 15. After the personal authentication of thespecific user on the landing floor (ground floor; entrance floor) forwhich the automatic registration is set effective, the control contentjudging section 4 d implements the automatic registration for thelanding call registration and the destination floor registration. Theoperating conditions illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15 may be set alone orin combination in the control content judging section 4 d. The otherstructure and operation are the same as those of any one of the first toninth embodiments.

Whether or not the automatic registration for the landing callregistration and the destination floor registration can be implementedcan be determined based on the operating condition in the elevatorsystem as described above, and hence elevator service corresponding to ausage pattern of the building 1 and a life style of each of the specificusers can be provided for the specific user.

The elevator system of the present invention may be used for a buildingwith a built-in visitor management system for managing the usersvisiting/leaving the building. Specifically, even if all the floors ofthe building are the specific floors, the elevator system of the presentinvention can be used.

Moreover, the elevator controller 4 controls the running of the singleelevator 2 in the first to tenth embodiments, but the number of theelevators 2 is not limited to this example. The elevator controller 4may control a group of a plurality of the elevators 2 in response to anoperation control signal from the remote controller 10.

Further, the system includes the plurality of the elevators 2 in thefirst to tenth embodiments, but the number of the elevators 2 is notlimited to this example. The system may include the single elevator. Inthis case, the operation control section, the personal authenticationsection, and the registered information extracting section may beconstituted by the same computer.

Further, the personal authentication device 9 and the remote controller10 are respectively constituted by the different computers in the firstto tenth embodiments, but the personal authentication section and theregistered information extracting section may be constituted by the samecomputer.

Further, the elevator controller 4 controls the running of the singleelevator 2 in the first to tenth embodiments, but the operation controlsection may control the plurality of elevators as one group to performthe running control in a group unit.

Further, the ID card reading section is used as the personalidentification information reading section of each of the intra-carmatching device 6 and the landing matching device 8 in the first totenth embodiments, but a biometric information reading section forreading biometric information, for example, a fingerprint, a palm print,an iris, and the like of the specific user may be used as the personalidentification information reading section.

1. An elevator system used for a building including a plurality ofspecific floors usable by a specific user acquiring personalidentification information in advance, comprising: an operation controlsection for controlling an operation of a car; an intra-car inputsection provided in the car, to which the personal identificationinformation is input by the specific user; a personal authenticationsection for making personal authentication of the specific user based onthe personal identification information received from the intra-carinput section; and a registered information extracting section capableof being registered with information of a registered specific floorcorresponding to the specific floor pre-designated by the specific useras registered floor information in association with the personalidentification information, for extracting the registered floorinformation corresponding to the specific user certified by the personalauthentication based on the personal identification information receivedfrom the personal authentication section, wherein, upon the personalauthentication of the specific user in the car by the personalauthentication section while the operation control section causes thecar to wait on a landing in response to a landing call registrationoperation performed on the landing, the operation control section countsthe registered specific floors present in a traveling direction of thecar according to the landing call registration operation in theregistered specific floors based on the registered floor informationreceived from the registered information extracting section, andperforms a destination floor registration with the registered specificfloor being a destination floor of the car if the number of the countedregistered specific floors is one.
 2. An elevator system according toclaim 1, wherein the operation control section presets to disable adestination floor registration operation for the specific floor, whichis performed through a car operation section provided in the car to beoperated by a user, and permits the destination floor registrationoperation for the registered specific floor corresponding to thespecific user certified by the personal authentication in response tothe personal authentication of the specific user by the personalauthentication section.
 3. An elevator system according to claim 1,wherein the operation control section presets to disable a destinationfloor registration operation for the specific floor, which is performedthrough a car operation section provided in the car to be operated by auser, and permits the destination floor registration operation for allthe specific floors in response to the personal authentication of thespecific user by the personal authentication section.
 4. An elevatorsystem according to claim 1, wherein: the building further includes atleast one general floor usable by a general user in addition to thespecific floors; the registered floor information contains informationof a registered general floor corresponding to the general floorpre-designated by the specific user in addition to the information ofthe registered specific floor; and upon the personal authentication ofthe specific user in the car by the personal authentication sectionwhile the operation control section causes the car to wait on thelanding in response to the landing call registration operation performedon the landing, the operation control section counts registered floorspresent in the traveling direction of the car according to the landingcall registration operation in the registered floors including theregistered specific floors and the registered general floor in theregistered floor information received from the registered informationextracting section, and performs the destination floor registration withthe registered floor being the destination floor of the car if thenumber of the counted registered floors is one.
 5. An elevator systemaccording to claim 1, wherein: the building further includes at leastone general floor usable by a general user in addition to the specificfloors; the elevator system further includes a landing input sectionprovided on the landing, to which the personal identificationinformation is input by the specific user; and the operation controlsection presets to disable the landing call registration operationthrough a landing call operation section provided on a landing of thegeneral floor of the building, and permits the landing call registrationoperation performed through the landing call operation section providedon the same landing as that provided with the landing input section uponthe personal authentication of the specific user made by the personalauthentication section based on the personal identification informationreceived from the landing input section.
 6. An elevator system accordingto claim 1, wherein: the building further includes at least one generalfloor usable by a general user in addition to the specific floors; andthe operation control section counts the general floors present in araising/lowering direction of the car according to the landing callregistration operation in response to the landing call registrationoperation performed through the landing call operation section providedon the landing of the specific floor, and performs the destination floorregistration with the general floor being the destination floor of thecar if the number of the counted general floors is one.
 7. An elevatorsystem according to claim 1, wherein: information of an operatingcondition indicating whether or not to implement the destination floorregistration in response to the personal authentication of the specificuser made by the personal authentication section is settable in theoperation control section, the operating condition being a conditionsettable for at least anyone of the personal identification information,a landing floor and a time zone; and the operation control sectionperforms the destination floor registration based on the operatingcondition in response to the personal authentication of the specificuser by the personal authentication section.
 8. An elevator system usedfor a building including a plurality of specific floors usable by aspecific user acquiring personal identification information in advance,comprising: an operation control section for controlling an operation ofa car; a landing input section provided on each of a plurality oflandings, to which the personal identification information is input bythe specific user; a personal authentication section for making personalauthentication of the specific user and specifying a landing floor atwhich the personal identification information is input based on thepersonal identification information received from the landing inputsection; and a registered information extracting section capable ofbeing registered with information of a registered specific floorcorresponding to the specific floor pre-designated by the specific useras registered floor information in association with the personalidentification information, for extracting the registered floorinformation corresponding to the specific user certified by the personalauthentication based on the personal identification information receivedfrom the personal authentication section, wherein, upon the personalauthentication of the specific user on the landing by the personalauthentication section, the operation control section judges in which ofan upward direction and a downward direction from the landing floorspecified by the personal authentication section all the registeredspecific floors based on the registered floor information received fromthe personal authentication section are present, and performs a landingcall registration with a traveling direction of the car from thespecified landing floor being the direction in which the registeredspecific floors are present if the all the registered specific floorsare present in only one of the upward direction and the downwarddirection.
 9. An elevator system according to claim 8, wherein, upon thelanding call registration in response to the personal authentication ofthe specific user by the personal authentication section, the operationcontrol section counts the registered specific floors present in thetraveling direction of the car in the registered specific floorscorresponding to the specific user certified by the personalauthentication, and performs a destination floor registration with theregistered specific floor being a destination floor of the car if thenumber of the counted registered specific floors is one.
 10. An elevatorsystem according to claim 8, wherein the operation control sectionmonitors a ride status of a user in the car, counts the registeredspecific floors present in the traveling direction of the car in theregistered floors corresponding to the specific user certified by thepersonal authentication upon detection of a ride of the user on the car,and performs a destination floor registration with the registeredspecific floor being a destination floor of the car if the number of thecounted registered specific floors is one.
 11. An elevator systemaccording to claim 8, wherein the operation control section presets todisable a destination floor registration operation for the specificfloor, which is performed through a car operation section provided inthe car to be operated by a user, monitors a ride status of the user inthe car, and permits the destination floor registration operation forthe registered specific floor corresponding to the specific usercertified by the personal authentication upon detection of a ride of theuser on the car.
 12. An elevator system according to claim 8, whereinthe operation control section presets to disable a destination floorregistration operation for the specific floor, which is performedthrough a car operation section provided in the car to be operated by auser, monitors a ride status of the user in the car, and permits thedestination floor registration operation for all the specific floorsupon detection of a ride of the user on the car.
 13. An elevator systemaccording to claim 8, wherein: information of an operating conditionindicating whether or not to implement the landing call registration inresponse to the personal authentication of the specific user made by thepersonal authentication section is settable in the operation controlsection, the operating condition being a condition settable for at leastany one of the personal identification information, the landing floorand a time zone; and the operation control section performs the landingcall registration based on the operating condition in response to thepersonal authentication of the specific user by the personalauthentication section.
 14. An elevator system used for a buildingincluding at least one general floor useable by a general user and aplurality of specific floors usable by a specific user acquiringpersonal identification information in advance, comprising: an operationcontrol section for controlling an operation of a car; a landing inputsection provided on each of a plurality of landings, to which thepersonal identification information is input by the specific user; apersonal authentication section for making personal authentication ofthe specific user and specifying a landing floor at which the personalidentification information is input based on the personal identificationinformation received from the landing input section; and a registeredinformation extracting section capable of being registered withinformation of a plurality of registered floors including the generalfloor pre-designated by the specific user and a registered specificfloor corresponding to the specific floor pre-designated by the specificuser as registered floor information in association with the personalidentification information, for extracting the registered floorinformation corresponding to the specific user certified by the personalauthentication based on the personal identification information receivedfrom the personal authentication section, wherein, upon the personalauthentication of the specific user on the landing by the personalauthentication section, the operation control section judges in which ofan upward direction and a downward direction from the landing floorspecified by the personal authentication section all the registeredfloors based on the registered floor information received from thepersonal authentication section are present, and performs a landing callregistration with the direction in which the registered floors arepresent being a traveling direction of the car from the specifiedlanding floor if the all the registered floors are present in only oneof the upward direction and the downward direction.
 15. An elevatorsystem according to claim 14, wherein the operation control sectionpresets to disable a landing call registration operation performedthrough a landing call operation section provided on a landing of thegeneral floor, and permits the landing call registration operationperformed through the landing call operation section provided on thesame landing as that provided with the landing input section in responseto the personal authentication by the personal authentication section.16. An elevator system according to claim 14, wherein, upon the landingcall registration in response to the personal authentication of thespecific user by the personal authentication section, the operationcontrol section counts the registered floors present in the travelingdirection of the car in the registered floors corresponding to thespecific user certified by the personal authentication, and performs adestination floor registration with the registered floor being adestination floor of the car if the number of the counted registeredfloors is one.
 17. An elevator system according to claim 14, wherein theoperation control section monitors a ride status of a user in the car,counts the registered floors present in the traveling direction of thecar in the registered specific floors corresponding to the specific usercertified by the personal authentication upon detection of a ride of theuser on the car, and performs a destination floor registration with theregistered floor being a destination floor of the car if the number ofthe counted registered floors is one.
 18. An elevator system accordingto claim 14, wherein the operation control section presets to disable adestination floor registration operation for the specific floor, whichis performed through a car operation section provided in the car to beoperated by a user, monitors a ride status of the user in the car, andpermits the destination floor registration operation for the registeredspecific floor corresponding to the specific user certified by thepersonal authentication upon detection of a ride of the user on the car.19. An elevator system according to claim 14, wherein the operationcontrol section presets to disable a destination floor registrationoperation for the specific floor, which is performed through a caroperation section provided in the car to be operated by a user, monitorsa ride status of the user in the car, and permits the destination floorregistration operation for all the specific floors upon detection of aride of the user on the car.
 20. An elevator system according to claim14, wherein: information of an operating condition indicating whether ornot to implement the landing call registration in response to thepersonal authentication of the specific user made by the personalauthentication section is settable in the operation control section, theoperating condition being a condition settable for at least any one ofthe personal identification information, the landing floor and a timezone; and the operation control section performs the landing callregistration based on the operating condition in response to thepersonal authentication of the specific user by the personalauthentication section.